I just got back to Nigeria recently, after the better part of 4
months away. Naturally, one of the things I missed the most while being
away was the food.

So I tried going to one of my favourite African restaurants to order
some. Everything seemed normal
until I tried to place an order. I asked
for beans and plantain… the waiter said I could have one or the other,
but not the two at the same time. I was confused. I decided to go for
Jollof rice and chicken.
Same story. Pounded yam and Egusi??? No, sorry,
it’s either pounded yam OR Egusi.. not both together. I was actually at
a loss for words. This didn’t make sense to me, at all.

The waiter then tried to explain.. using words like “change”,
“growth” and “trying a new direction”.

But I didn’t and still don’t
understand. Why change what was already perfect? He explained that any
option I chose would still taste good. So, because hunger was killing
me, I tried it. In the past few days, I’d try plantain one day, and then
beans another etc. And they did taste good. But they were perfect
together. Absolutely perfect. The best of the best of African cuisine.

It’s unfortunate that sometimes, with growth, change and
whatever-other-word U wanna use… we end up losing sight of where and how
we started and altering what was a perfectly working combination. It
makes me sad. But such is life I guess.

For now, I will have to make do with either beans OR plantain, and
either Jollof OR chicken, at different times. It isn’t quite the same
though, so here’s hoping one day someone will realize that you should
never have to choose between two good things, when both, together, make a
perfect combination.

I miss beans and dodo at my favourite restaurant. Sigh.
In other news, happy birthday Peter and Paul. Shoutout to the chef Jude Okoye. I love you all.